A Crown of Golden Leaves: A Percy Jackson Fanfiction

Caput LXV: Brave Song

Caput LXV: Brave Song

A Few Months Later (because I can't think of anything to add atm)

"All right," Percy said, taking a deep breath as the majority of the army marched away. He looked at Nico who nodded minutely. "We're good?" he asked. Leo nodded. He looked at Annabeth, who was tightening her grip on her sword. She looked fine now, but just yesterday she had collapsed.

"I'm coming," she said, and he nodded. And he wasn't going to stop her from doing something she wanted. "Right. So we're-"

He suddenly shushed her. Something had moved by her shoulder, though he wasn't quite sure what the something was...

Soteria stepped out of the shadows, and while her face was serene, Percy felt uneasy. Automatically, he shifted in front of Annabeth to shield her - a completely understandable reflex when it came to her. (HOLD ON, ANNABETH'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. SHE WENT WITH THE ARMY.)

"Soteria?" he heard Leo ask. Soteria's eyes snapped open.

Percy ducked out of the way of an oncoming projectile.

... MORE MUST BE ADDED EVENTUALLY.

~...~ 

"Are you all right?" Annabeth asked when she finally saw Percy. She ran to meet up with him, shouldering him against her. He gave her a weak, closed lip smile.

"I told you so."

She considered dropping him but decided against it. "About what?"

"Soteria was out to get us."

She rolled her eyes. "Right," she said a little slowly. She wasn't quite sure why this was so important to him, but she figured it would be easier to acknowledge him then try to ignore him. Then she paused. "Wait, what?"

He waved at Nico, or maybe he gestured toward him? "Ask him."

~...~

(Nico and Frank slip into the city and poison the water system.)

~...~

"This is the right thing to do," Annabeth said, the night before they were going to attack, when rumors reached them of dying people in Romi. Percy's downcast gaze rose and he looked up at her. She walked up to his side and nudged him. He stumbled and she smiled a little sheepishly. And then there were times where her own strength surprised her... "I know it."

"Still, all those people in the city - The water affects them too."

"We couldn't warn them; Nyx would have known."

He frowned. The sunlight gleamed off the mountains that hid the spirals of Roma from their view. Tomorrow. Tomorrow they would fight. And tomorrow they would decide the fate of their country.

"We could both die tomorrow," Percy said softly. She looked up at him.

"We could both die tonight as well," she said simply, reminding him that their time was limited any way you sliced it. He smiled a little, and he finally, finally met her gaze. She smiled back at him. "Honestly, if I'm going to die, I'd rather die fighting."

"I'm glad it was you," he said softly, and she wasn't sure what he was talking about. But that was fine, because she had a feeling it wasn't just one thing. Then his gaze fell back on the horizon, and the sunlight reflected in his eyes. His shoulders straightened slightly.

"When this is over... We're going to have to rebuild Roma. And that's going to take a long time. We may not even see it restored to its former glory in our lifetime." She didn't tell him, but she didn't think she had very long left to live at all. He looked at her suddenly, and she thought that he might know anyway. "Are you sure about this?"

There was something moving about his solemnity. As the sun slid behind the mountains and the lights danced, she slipped her hand into his and squeezed it. "Do you even need to ask?"